Sulfonyl-3-heterocyclylindazole derivatives as 5-hydroxytryptamine-6 ligands

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a compound of formula I and the use thereof for the treatment of a central nervous system disorder related to or affected by the 5-HT6 receptor.

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. provisional application No. 60/789,536, filed Apr. 5, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) (5-HT) receptors play a critical role in many physiological and behavioral functions in humans and animals. These functions are mediated through various 5-HT receptors distributed throughout the body. There are now approximately fifteen different human 5-HT receptor subtypes that have been cloned, many with well-defined roles in humans. One of the most recently identified 5-HT receptor subtypes is the 5-HT6 receptor, first cloned from rat tissue in 1993 (Monsma, F. J.; Shen, Y.; Ward, R. P.; Hamblin, M. W. Molecular Pharmacology 1993, 43, 320-327) and subsequently from human tissue (Kohen, R.; Metcalf, M. A.; Khan, N.; Druck, T.; Huebner, K.; Sibley, D. R. Journal of Neurochemistry 1996, 66, 47-56). The receptor is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) positively coupled to adenylate cyclase (Ruat, M.; Traiffort, E.; Arrang, J-M.; Tardivel-Lacombe, L.; Diaz, L.; Leurs, R.; Schwartz, J-C. Biochemical Biophysical Research Communications 1993, 193, 268-276). The receptor is found almost exclusively in the central nervous system (CNS) areas both in rat and in human. In situ hybridization studies of the 5-HT6 receptor in rat brain using mRNA indicate principal localization in the areas of 5-HT projection including striatum, nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle, and hippocampal formation (Ward, R. P.; Hamblin, M. W.; Lachowicz, J. E.; Hoffman, B. J.; Sibley, D. R.; Dorsa, D. M. Neuroscience 1995, 64, 1105-1111).

There are many potential therapeutic uses for 5-HT6 ligands in humans based on direct effects and on indications from available scientific studies. These studies provided information including the localization of the receptor, the affinity of ligands with known in vivo activity, and results obtained from various animal studies conducted so far (Woolley, M. L.; Marsden, C. A.; Fone, K. C. F. Current Drug Targets: CNS & Neurological Disorders 2004, 3(1), 59-79).

One therapeutic use of modulators of 5-HT6 receptor function is in the enhancement of cognition and memory in human diseases such as Alzheimer's. The high levels of receptor found in important structures in the forebrain, including the caudate/putamen, hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, and cortex indicate a role for the receptor in memory and cognition since these areas are known to play a vital role in memory (Gerard, C.; Martres, M.-P.; Lefevre, K.; Miquel, M. C.; Verge, D.; Lanfumey, R.; Doucet, E.; Hamon, M.; El Mestikawy, S. Brain Research, 1997, 746, 207-219). The ability of known 5-HT₆ receptor ligands to enhance cholinergic transmission also supported the cognition use (Bentley, J. C.; Boursson, A.; Boess, F. G.; Kone, F. C.; Marsden, C. A.; Petit, N.; Sleight, A. J. British Journal of Pharmacology, 1999, 126(7), 1537-1542). Studies have demonstrated that a known 5-HT₆ selective antagonist significantly increased glutamate and aspartate levels in the frontal cortex without elevating levels of noradrenaline, dopamine, or 5-HT. This selective elevation of neurochemicals known to be involved in memory and cognition indicates the role 5-HT₆ ligands play in cognition (Dawson, L. A.; Nguyen, H. Q.; Li, P. British Journal of Pharmacology, 2000, 130(1), 23-26). Animal studies of memory and learning with a known selective 5-HT₆ antagonist found positive effects (Rogers, D. C.; Hatcher, P. D.; Hagan, J. J. Society of Neuroscience, Abstracts 2000, 26, 680). More recent studies have supported this finding in several additional animal models of cognition and memory including in a novel object discrimination model (King, M. V.; Sleight, A. J.; Wooley, M. L.; Topham, I. A.; Marsden, C. A.; Fone, K. C. F. Neuropharmacology 2004, 47(2), 195-204 and Wooley, M. L.; Marsden, C. A.; Sleight, A. J.; Fone, K. C. F. Psychopharmacology, 2003, 170(4), 358-367) and in a water maze model (Rogers, D. C.; Hagan, J. J. Psychopharmacology, 2001, 158(2), 114-119 and Foley, A. G.; Murphy, K. J.; Hirst, W. D.; Gallagher, H. C.; Hagan, J. J.; Upton, N.; Walsh, F. S.; Regan, C. M. Neuropsychopharmacology 2004, 29(1), 93-100).

A related therapeutic use for 5-HT₆ ligands is the treatment of attention deficit disorders (ADD, also known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD) in both children and adults. Because 5-HT₆ antagonists enhance the activity of the nigrostriatal dopamine pathway and because ADHD has been linked to abnormalities in the caudate (Ernst, M; Zametkin, A. J.; Matochik, J. H.; Jons, P. A.; Cohen, R. M. Journal of Neuroscience 1998, 18(15), 5901-5907), 5-HT₆ antagonists attenuate attention deficit disorders.

Early studies examining the affinity of various CNS ligands with known therapeutic utility or a strong structural resemblance to known drugs implicates 5-HT₆ ligands in the treatment of schizophrenia and depression. For example, clozapine (an effective clinical antipsychotic) has high affinity for the 5-HT₆ receptor subtype. Also, several clinical antidepressants have high affinity for the receptor as well and act as antagonists at this site (Branchek, T. A.; Blackburn, T. P. Annual Reviews in Pharmacology and Toxicology 2000, 40, 319-334).

Further, recent in vivo studies in rats indicate that 5-HT₆ modulators are useful in the treatment of movement disorders including epilepsy (Stean, T.; Routledge, C.; Upton, N. British Journal of Pharmacology 1999, 127 Proc. Supplement 131P and Routledge, C.; Bromidge, S. M.; Moss, S. F.; Price, G. W.; Hirst, W.; Newman, H.; Riley, G.; Gager, T. Stean, T.; Upton, N.; Clarke, S. E.; Brown, A. M. British Journal of Pharmacology 2000, 130(7), 1606-1612).

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide compounds which are useful as therapeutic agents in the treatment of a variety of central nervous system disorders related to or affected by the 5-HT6 receptor.

It is another object of this invention to provide therapeutic methods and pharmaceutical compositions useful for the treatment of central nervous system disorders related to or affected by the 5-HT6 receptor.

It is a feature of this invention that the compounds provided may also be used to further study and elucidate the 5-HT6 receptor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a sulfonyl-3-heterocyclylindazole compound of formula I

wherein

-   -   R is H, halogen or an optionally substituted alkyl or haloalkyl         group;     -   R₁ is an aryl or heteroaryl group each group optionally         substituted or an optionally substituted 8- to 13-membered         bicyclic or tricyclic ring system having a N atom at the         bridgehead and optionally containing 1, 2 or 3 additional         heteroatoms selected from N, O or S;     -   R₂ is H or an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each         group optionally substituted;     -   R₃ and R₄ are each independently H, or an optionally substituted         alkyl group;     -   n is 0 or an integer of 1 or 2; and     -   R₅ is H or an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or cycloalkyl, group each         group optionally substituted; or         a stereoisomer thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt         thereof.

The present invention also provides methods and compositions useful for the therapeutic treatment of central nervous system disorders related to or affected by the 5-HT6 receptor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The 5-hydroxytryptamine-6 (5-HT6) receptor has been identified by molecular cloning. Its ability to bind a wide range of therapeutic compounds used in psychiatry, coupled with its intriguing distribution in the brain has stimulated significant interest in new compounds which are capable of interacting with or affecting said receptor. Significant efforts are being made to understand the role of the 5-HT6 receptor in psychiatry, cognitive dysfunction, motor function and control, memory, mood and the like. To that end, compounds which demonstrate a binding affinity for the 5-HT6 receptor are earnestly sought both as an aid in the study of the 5-HT6 receptor and as potential therapeutic agents in the treatment of central nervous system disorders, for example see C. Reavill and D. C. Rogers, Current Opinion in Investigational Drugs, 2001, 2(1):104-109, Pharma Press Ltd and Woolley, M. L.; Marsden, C. A.; Fone, K. C. F. Current Drug Targets: CNS & Neurological Disorders 2004, 3(1), 59-79.

Surprisingly, it has now been found that sulfonyl-3-heterocyclylindazole compounds of formula I demonstrate 5-HT6 affinity along with significant sub-type selectivity. Advantageously, said formula I compounds are effective therapeutic agents for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders associated with or affected by the 5-HT6 receptor. Accordingly, the present invention provides a sulfonyl-3-heterocyclylindazole compound of formula I

wherein

-   -   R is H, halogen or an optionally substituted alkyl or haloalkyl         group;     -   R₁ is an aryl or heteroaryl group each group optionally         substituted or an optionally substituted 8- to 13-membered         bicyclic or tricyclic ring system having a N atom at the         bridgehead and optionally containing 1, 2 or 3 additional         heteroatoms selected from N, O or S;     -   R₂ is H or an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group each         group optionally substituted;     -   R₃ and R₄ are each independently H, or an optionally substituted         alkyl group;     -   n is 0 or an integer of 1 or 2; and     -   R₅ is H or an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or cycloalkyl, group each         group optionally substituted; or         a stereoisomer thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt         thereof.

Preferred compounds of the invention are those compounds of formula I wherein n is 1. Another group of preferred compounds is those formula I compounds wherein R₁ is an optionally substituted phenyl or naphthyl group. Also preferred are those formula I compounds wherein R, R₃ and R₄ are H.

More preferred compounds of the invention are those compounds of formula I wherein n is 1 and R₃ and R₄ are H. Another group of more preferred compounds is those compounds of formula I wherein n is 1 and R₂ is H or methyl. A further group of more preferred compounds are those compounds of formula I wherein R₁ is an optionally substituted phenyl or naphthyl group; n is 1; and R₂ is H or methyl.

Among the preferred compounds of the invention are:

-   3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-5-(1-naphthylsulfonyl)-1H-indazole; -   3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-5-(2-naphthylsulfonyl)-1H-indazole; -   3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-5-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-indazole; -   5-[(3-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indazole; -   5-[(3-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl]-3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indazole; -   5-[(4-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indazole; -   5-[(3-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]-3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indazole; -   3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-5-{[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]sulfonyl}-1H-indazole; -   3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-5-{[4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]sulfonyl}-1H-indazole; -   5-[4-(isopropylphenyl)sulfonyl]-3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indazole;     a stereoisomer thereof; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt     thereof.

An optionally substituted moiety may be substituted with one or more substituents. The substituent groups, which are optionally present, may be one or more of those customarily employed in the development of pharmaceutical compounds or the modification of such compounds to influence their structure/activity, persistence, absorption, stability or other beneficial property. Specific examples of such substituents include halogen atoms, nitro, cyano, thiocyanato, cyanato, hydroxyl, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, formyl, alkoxycarbonyl, carboxyl, alkanoyl, alkylthio, alkylsuphinyl, alkylsulphonyl, carbamoyl, alkylamido, phenyl, phenoxy, benzyl, benzyloxy, heterocyclyl or cycloalkyl groups, preferably halogen atoms or lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower haloalkyl or lower haloalkoxy groups. Unless otherwise specified, typically, 1-3 substituents may be present.

The term “halogen”, as used herein, designates fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine.

As used herein, the term “alkyl” includes both (C₁-C₁₀) straight chain and (C₃-C₁₂) branched-chain monovalent saturated hydrocarbon moiety. Examples of saturated hydrocarbon alkyl moieties include, but are not limited to, chemical groups such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl; higher homologs such as n-pentyl, n-hexyl, and the like. Specifically included within the definition of “alkyl” are those alkyl groups that are optionally substituted. Suitable alkyl substitutions include, but are not limited to, CN, OH, halogen, phenyl, carbamoyl, carbonyl, alkoxy or aryloxy.

As used herein, the term “haloalkyl” designates a C_(n)H_(2n+1) group having from one to 2n+1 halogen atoms which may be the same or different. Examples of haloalkyl groups include CF₃, CH₂Cl, C₂H₃BrCl, C₃H₅F₂, or the like.

The term “alkenyl”, as used herein, refers to either a (C₂-C₈) straight chain or (C₃-C₁₀) branched-chain monovalent hydrocarbon moiety containing at least one double bond. Such hydrocarbon alkenyl moieties may be mono or polyunsaturated, and may exist in the E or Z configurations. The compounds of this invention are meant to include all possible E and Z configurations. Examples of mono or polyunsaturated hydrocarbon alkenyl moieties include, but are not limited to, chemical groups such as vinyl, 2-propenyl, isopropenyl, crotyl, 2-isopentenyl, butadienyl, 2-(butadienyl), 2,4-pentadienyl, 3-(1,4-pentadienyl), or the like.

Similarly, the term “alkynyl”, as used herein, refers to either a (C₂-C₈) straight chain or (C₃-C₁₀) branched-chain monovalent hydrocarbon moiety containing at least one triple bond. Such hydrocarbon alkynyl moieties may be mono or polyunsaturated. Examples of mono or polyunsaturated hydrocarbon alkynyl moieties include, but are not limited to, chemical groups such as 2-propynyl, 3-pentynyl, or the like.

The term “cycloalkyl”, as used herein, refers to a monocyclic, bicyclic, tricyclic, fused, bridged, or spiro monovalent saturated hydrocarbon moiety of 3-10 carbon atoms. Examples of cycloalkyl moieties include, but are not limited to, chemical groups such as cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, norbornyl, adamantyl, spiro[4.5]decanyl, or the like.

The term “cycloheteroalkyl” as used herein designates a five- to seven-membered cycloalkyl ring system containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms, which may be the same or different, selected from N, O or S and optionally containing one double bond. Exemplary of the cycloheteroalkyl ring systems included in the term as designated herein are the following rings wherein X is NR, O or S and R is H or an optional substituent as defined hereinabove.

The term “aryl”, as used herein, refers to an aromatic carbocyclic moiety of up to 20 carbon atoms, which may be a single ring (monocyclic) or multiple rings (bicyclic, up to three rings) fused together or linked covalently. Examples of aryl moieties include, but are not limited to, phenyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, biphenyl, anthryl, phenanthryl, fluorenyl, indanyl, biphenylenyl, acenaphthenyl, acenaphthylenyl, and the like.

The term “heteroaryl” as used herein designates an aromatic heterocyclic ring system, which may be a single ring (monocyclic) or multiple rings (bicyclic, up to three rings) fused together or linked covalently. Preferably, heteroaryl is a 5- to 6-membered ring. The rings may contain from one to four hetero atoms selected from N, O or S, wherein the nitrogen or sulfur atom is optionally oxidized, or the nitrogen atom is optionally quarternized. Examples of heteroaryl moieties include, but are not limited to, furan, thiophene, pyrrole, pyrazole, imidazole, oxazole, isoxazole, thiazole, isothiazole, oxadiazole, triazole, pyridine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, pyridazine, benzimidazole, benzoxazole, benzisoxazole, benzothiazole, benzofuran, benzothiophene, thianthrene, dibenzofuran, dibenzothiophene, indole, indazole, quinoline, isoquinoline, quinazoline, quinoxaline, purine, or the like.

Exemplary of the 8- to 13-membered bicyclic or tricyclic ring systems having a N atom at the bridgehead and optionally containing 1, 2 or 3 additional heteroatoms selected from N, O or S included in the term as designated herein are the following ring systems wherein W is NR′, O or S; and R′ is H or an optional substituent as described hereinbelow:

While shown without respect to stereochemistry, compounds of formula I include all stereochemical forms of the structure; i.e., the R and S configurations for each asymmetric center. Therefore, single stereochemical isomers as well as enantiomeric and diastereomeric mixtures of the present compounds are within the scope of the invention. The compounds of this invention may contain one or more asymmetric centers and may thus give rise to optical isomers and diastereomers. The present invention includes such optical isomers and diastereomers; as well as the racemic and resolved, enantiomerically pure R and S stereoisomers; as well as other mixtures of the R and S stereoisomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Where a stereoisomer is preferred, it may in some embodiments be provided substantially free of the corresponding enantiomer. Thus, an enantiomer substantially free of the corresponding enantiomer refers to a compound that is isolated or separated via separation techniques or prepared free of the corresponding enantiomer. “Substantially free”, as used herein, means that the compound is made up of a significantly greater proportion of one steriosomer, preferably less than about 50%, more preferably less than about 75%, and even more preferably less than about 90%.

Formula I structures depicted herein are also meant to include compounds which differ only in the presence of one or more isotopically enriched atoms. For example, compounds having the present structure except for the replacement of a hydrogen by a deuterium or tritium, or the replacement of a carbon by a ¹³C- or ¹⁴C-enriched carbon are within the scope of this invention.

The compounds of the present invention may be converted to salts, in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts using art recognized procedures. Suitable salts with bases are, for example, metal salts, such as alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts, for example sodium, potassium or magnesium salts, or salts with ammonia or an organic amine, such as morpholine, thiomorpholine, piperidine, pyrrolidine a mono-, di- or tri-lower alkylamine, for example ethyl-tert-butyl-, diethyl-, diisopropyl-, triethyl-, tributyl- or dimethylpropylamine, or a mono-, di-, or trihydroxy lower alkylamine, for example mono-, di- or triethanolamine. Internal salts may furthermore be formed. The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt”, as used herein, refers to salts derived from organic and inorganic acids such as, for example, acetic, propionic, lactic, citric, tartaric, succinic, fumaric, maleic, malonic, mandelic, malic, phthalic, hydrochloric, hydrobromic, phosphoric, nitric, sulfuric, methanesulfonic, napthalenesulfonic, benzenesulfonic, toluenesulfonic, camphorsulfonic, and similarly known acceptable acids when a compound of this invention contains a basic moiety.

Compounds of the invention include esters, carbamates or other conventional prodrug forms, which in general, are functional derivatives of the compounds of the invention and which are readily converted to the inventive active moiety in vivo. Correspondingly, the method of the invention embraces the treatment of the various conditions described hereinabove with a compound of formula I or with a compound which is not specifically disclosed but which, upon administration, converts to a compound of formula I in vivo.

Advantageously, the present invention also provides a convenient and effective process for the preparation of a compound of formula I wherein R₂ is other than H (Ia) which comprises reacting a compound of formula II with at least two molar equivalents of an oxidizing agent, optionally in the presence of a solvent, to give the compound of formula Ia. The process is shown hereinbelow in flow diagram I wherein R₂ is other than H.

Oxidizing agents suitable for use in the process of the invention include potassium peroxymonosulfate, peracetic acid, perbenzoic acid, chromium trioxide, t-butylperoxide, preferably potassium peroxymonosulfate, or the like, or a mixture thereof.

Solvents suitable for use in the process of the invention include solvents such as alkanols, i.e., methanol, ethanol, propanol or the like, water, acetone, chloroform, or the like, or a mixture thereof.

Compounds of formula II may be prepared using conventional synthetic methods and, if required, standard isolation or separation techniques. For example, compounds of formula II wherein R₅ is H (IIa) may be prepared by sequentially reacting a 4-chloroheterocyclic compound of formula III with magnesium to form the corresponding Grignard intermediate and reacting said intermediate with an orthofluorobenzoyl chloride of formula IV to give the ketone of formula V; reacting the formula V ketone with hydrazine to give the indazole of formula VI; and reacting the formula VI indazole with a thiol of formula VII in the presence of a coupling agent, such as CuI, to give the desired compound of formula IIa. The reaction is shown in flow diagram II wherein X is Cl, Br or I.

Compounds of formula II wherein R₅ is other than H (IIb) may be prepared by; reacting the formula IIa indazole with an appropriate alkylhalide, R₅X, in the presence of a base such as NaH to give the desired compound of formula IIb. The reaction is shown in flow diagram III wherein X is Cl, Br or I.

Compounds of formula IIa or IIb may be converted to compounds of formula Ia using the process described hereinabove in flow diagram I.

Compounds of formula I wherein R₂ is H may be prepared by dealkylating the formula Ia compound using conventional dealkylation techniques such as treatment with 1-chloroethyl chloroformate, vinyl chloroformate, pyridinium bromide or the like, or debenzylation via hydrogenation or any standard method known to remove an alkyl moiety from a ring nitrogen atom.

Advantageously, the formula I compounds of the invention are useful for the treatment of CNS disorders related to or affected by the 5-HT6 receptor including motor, mood, personality, behavioral, psychiatric, cognitive, neurodegenerative, or the like disorders, for example Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, attention deficit disorder, anxiety, epilepsy, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, sleep disorders, neurodegenerative disorders (such as head trauma or stroke), feeding disorders (such as anorexia or bulimia), schizophrenia, memory loss, disorders associated with withdrawal from drug or nicotine abuse, or the like or certain gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome. Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for the treatment of a disorder of the central nervous system related to or affected by the 5-HT6 receptor in a patient in need thereof which comprises providing said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I as described hereinabove. The compounds may be provided by oral or parenteral administration or in any common manner known to be an effective administration of a therapeutic agent to a patient in need thereof.

The term “providing” as used herein with respect to providing a compound or substance embraced by the invention, designates either directly administering such a compound or substance, or administering a prodrug, derivative or analog which forms an equivalent amount of the compound or substance within the body.

The inventive method includes: a method for the treatment of schizophrenia; a method for the treatment of a disease associated with a deficit in memory, cognition, and/or learning or a cognitive disorder such as Alzheimer's disease or attention deficit disorder; a method for the treatment of developmental disorders such as schizophrenia; Down's syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, autism or the like; a method for the treatment of behavioral disorders, e.g., anxiety, depression, or obsessive compulsive disorder; a method for the treatment of motion or motor disorders such as Parkinson's disease or epilepsy; a method for the treatment of a neurodegenerative disorder such as stroke or head trauma or withdrawal from drug addiction including addiction to nicotine, alcohol, or other substances of abuse, or any other CNS disease or disorder associated with or related to the 5-HT6 receptor.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating attention deficit disorders (ADD, also known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD) in both children and adults. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating attention deficit disorders in a pediatric patient.

The present invention therefore provides a method for the treatment of each of the conditions listed above in a patient, preferably in a human, said method comprises providing said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I as described hereinabove. The compounds may be provided by oral or parenteral administration or in any common manner known to be an effective administration of a therapeutic agent to a patient in need thereof.

The therapeutically effective amount provided in the treatment of a specific CNS disorder may vary according to the specific condition(s) being treated, the size, age and response pattern of the patient, the severity of the disorder, the judgment of the attending physician and the like. In general, effective amounts for daily oral administration may be about 0.01 to 1,000 mg/kg, preferably about 0.5 to 500 mg/kg and effective amounts for a parenteral administration may be about 0.1 to 100 mg/kg, preferably about 0.5 to 50 mg/kg.

In actual practice, the compounds of the invention are provided by administering the compound or a precursor thereof in a solid or liquid form, either neat or in combination with one or more conventional pharmaceutical carriers or excipients. Accordingly, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition which comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and an effective amount of a compound of formula I as described hereinabove.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to compositions comprising at least one compound of formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients, or diluents. Such compositions include pharmaceutical compositions for treating or controlling disease states or conditions of the central nervous system. In certain embodiments, the compositions comprise mixtures of one or more compounds of formula I.

In certain embodiments, the invention relates to compositions comprising at least one compound of formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients, or diluents. Such compositions are prepared in accordance with acceptable pharmaceutical procedures. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are those carriers that are compatible with the other ingredients in the formulation and are biologically acceptable.

The compounds of formula I may be administered orally or parenterally, neat, or in combination with conventional pharmaceutical carriers. Applicable solid carriers can include one or more substances that can also act as flavoring agents, lubricants, solubilizers, suspending agents, fillers, glidants, compression aids, binders, tablet-disintegrating agents, or encapsulating materials. In powders, the carrier is a finely divided solid that is in admixture with the finely divided active ingredient. In tablets, the active ingredient is mixed with a carrier having the necessary compression properties in suitable proportions and compacted in the shape and size desired. The powders and tablets preferably contain up to 99% of the active ingredient. Suitable solid carriers include, for example, calcium phosphate, magnesium stearate, talc, sugars, lactose, dextrin, starch, gelatin, cellulose, methyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidine, low melting waxes and ion exchange resins.

In certain embodiments, a compound of formula I is provided in a disintegrating tablet formulation suitable for pediatric administration.

Liquid carriers can be used in preparing solutions, suspensions, emulsions, syrups and elixirs. The active ingredient can be dissolved or suspended in a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid carrier such as water, an organic solvent, a mixture of both, or a pharmaceutically acceptable oil or fat. The liquid carrier can contain other suitable pharmaceutical additives such as, for example, solubilizers, emulsifiers, buffers, preservatives, sweeteners, flavoring agents, suspending agents, thickening agents, colors, viscosity regulators, stabilizers or osmo-regulators. Suitable examples of liquid carriers for oral and parenteral administration include water (particularly containing additives as above, e.g. cellulose derivatives, preferably sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution), alcohols (including monohydric alcohols and polyhydric alcohols e.g. glycols) and their derivatives, and oils (e.g. fractionated coconut oil and arachis oil). For parenteral administration, the carrier can also be an oily ester such as ethyl oleate and isopropyl myristate. Sterile liquid carriers are used in sterile liquid form compositions for parenteral administration. The liquid carrier for pressurized compositions can be halogenated hydrocarbon or other pharmaceutically acceptable propellant.

In certain embodiments, a liquid pharmaceutical composition is provided wherein said composition is suitable for pediatric administration. In other embodiments, the liquid composition is a syrup or suspension.

Liquid pharmaceutical compositions that are sterile solutions or suspensions can be administered by, for example, intramuscular, intraperitoneal or subcutaneous injection. Sterile solutions can also be administered intravenously. Compositions for oral administration can be in either liquid or solid form.

The compounds of formula I may be administered rectally or vaginally in the form of a conventional suppository. For administration by intranasal or intrabronchial inhalation or insufflation, the compounds of formula I can be formulated into an aqueous or partially aqueous solution, which can then be utilized in the form of an aerosol. The compounds of formula I can also be administered transdermally through the use of a transdermal patch containing the active compound and a carrier that is inert to the active compound, is non-toxic to the skin, and allows delivery of the agent for systemic absorption into the blood stream via the skin. The carrier can take any number of forms such as creams and ointments, pastes, gels, and occlusive devices. The creams and ointments can be viscous liquid or semisolid emulsions of either the oil-in-water or water-in-oil type. Pastes comprised of absorptive powders dispersed in petroleum or hydrophilic petroleum containing the active ingredient can also be suitable. A variety of occlusive devices can be used to release the active ingredient into the blood stream such as a semipermeable membrane covering a reservoir containing the active ingredient with or without a carrier, or a matrix containing the active ingredient. Other occlusive devices are known in the literature.

Preferably the pharmaceutical composition is in unit dosage form, e.g. as tablets, capsules, powders, solutions, suspensions, emulsions, granules, or suppositories. In such form, the composition is sub-divided in unit dose containing appropriate quantities of the active ingredient; the unit dosage forms can be packaged compositions, for example, packeted powders, vials, ampoules, prefilled syringes or sachets containing liquids. The unit dosage form can be, for example, a capsule or tablet itself, or it can be the appropriate number of any such compositions in package form.

The therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I provided to a patient will vary depending upon what is being administered, the purpose of the administration, such as prophylaxis or therapy, the state of the patient, the manner of administration, and the like. In therapeutic applications, compounds of formula I are provided to a patient suffering from a condition in an amount sufficient to treat or at least partially treat the symptoms of the condition and its complications. An amount adequate to accomplish this is a “therapeutically effective amount” as described previously herein. The dosage to be used in the treatment of a specific case must be subjectively determined by the attending physician. The variables involved include the specific condition and the size, age, and response pattern of the patient. The treatment of substance abuse follows the same method of subjective drug administration under the guidance of the attending physician. Generally, a starting dose is about 5 mg per day with gradual increase in the daily dose to about 150 mg per day, to provide the desired dosage level in the patient.

In certain embodiments, the present invention is directed to prodrugs of compounds of formula I. The term “prodrug,” as used herein, means a compound that is convertible in vivo by metabolic means (e.g. by hydrolysis) to a compound of formula I. Various forms of prodrugs are known in the art such as those discussed in, for example, Bundgaard, (ed.), Design of Prodrugs, Elsevier (1985); Widder, et al. (ed.), Methods in Enzymology, vol. 4, Academic Press (1985); Krogsgaard-Larsen, et al., (ed). “Design and Application of Prodrugs, Textbook of Drug Design and Development, Chapter 5, 113-191 (1991), Bundgaard, et al., Journal of Drug Delivery Reviews, 8:1-38(1992), Bundgaard, J. of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 77:285 et seq. (1988); and Higuchi and Stella (eds.) Prodrugs as Novel Drug Delivery Systems, American Chemical Society (1975).

For a more clear understanding, and in order to illustrate the invention more clearly, specific examples thereof are set forth hereinbelow. The following examples are merely illustrative and are not to be understood as limiting the scope and underlying principles of the invention in any way. The term HNMR designates proton nuclear magnetic resonance. The term MS desigates mass spectrum. The terms THF, EtOAc and DMSO designate tetrahydrofuran, ethyl acetate and dimethylsulfoxide, respectively. All chromatography is performed using SiO₂ as support. Unless otherwise noted, all parts are parts by weight.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of 4-(2-Fluoro-5-iodobenzoyl)-1-methylpiperidine

A stirred suspension of Mg turnings (3.82 g, 157 mmol) in dry THF, under N₂, was treated with 2-3 drops of dibromoethane, followed by slow addition of freshly-distilled 4-chloro-N-methylpiperidine (7.00 g, 52.4 mmol) in THF. The reaction mixture was heated at 70° C. for 3 h, cooled to room temperature, added to 2-fluoro-5-iodobenzoyl chloride (10.1 g, 35.6 mmol) in THF at −78° C., warmed to room temperature over 1 h and concentrated in vacuo. The resultant residue was dissolved in EtOAc, washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO4 concentrated in vacuo. This residue was purified by chromatography (0-10% CH₂Cl₂ in CH₃OH as eluent) to provide the title compound (6.50 g, 53%), characterized by HNMR and mass spectral analyses.

EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of 5-Iodo-3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indazole

A mixture of 4-(2-fluoro-5-iodobenzoyl)-1-methylpiperidine (4.20 g, 12.1 mmol), anhydrous NH₂NH₂ (30 mL), and DMSO (15 mL) was heated at 100° C. overnight, diluted with ice water and filtered. The filtercake was washed with water and dried in vacuo to provide the title compound (4.1 g, 99%), characterized by HNMR and mass spectral analyses.

EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of 3-(1-Methylpiperidin-4-yl)-5-(1-naphthylsulfonyl)-1H-indazole

A mixture of 5-iodo-3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indazole (0.32 g, 0.94 mmol), 1-naphthylthiol (0.15 g, 0.94 mmol), CuI (0.018 g, 0.09 mmol), ethylene glycol (0.116 g, 1.88 mmol), and K₂CO₃ (0.259 g, 1.88 mmol) in iPrOH (1.3 mL) was heated at 90° C. overnight, diluted with 20% CH₃OH in CH₂Cl₂, passed through a pad of silica gel, concentrated, and chromatographed, using 15% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂ as eluent, to provide the title compound (90 mg, 26%), characterized by NMR and mass spectral analyses.

EXAMPLE 4 Preparation of 3-(1-Methylpiperidin-4-yl)-5-(1-naphthylsulfonyl)-1H-indazole hydrochloride

A solution of 3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-5-(1-naphthylsulfonyl)-1H-indazole (0.16 g, 0.44 mmol) in CH₃OH was treated with concentrated HCl (0.05 mL) and the resulting solution was concentrated to dryness. The resultant residue was redissolved in CH₃OH (8.8 mL), treated sequentially with water (8.8 mL) and Oxone®¹ (0.54 g, 0.88 mmol), stirred at room temperature for 20 min and concentrated in vacuo. This residue was dissolved in DMSO and purified by Gilson reverse phase HPLC. The purified material was treated with anhydrous HCl in ether and evaporated to dryness to afford the title compound as a yellow solid, 125 mg (64% yield), identified by HNMR and mass spectral analyses. MS (ES⁺) m/e 406 (MH⁺). ¹Oxone® is potassium peroxymonosulfate, manufactured by Aldrich Chemical Co.

EXAMPLES 5-14 Preparation of 5-Arylsulfonyl-3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indazole Hydrochloride Compounds

Using essentially the same procedures described in Examples 3 and 4 and employing the desired thiol in step 1, the compounds shown in Table I were obtained and identified by HNMR and mass spectral analyses.

TABLE I

Ex. No. R1 [M + H]⁺ 5 phenyl 356 6 3-fluorophenyl 374 7 3-chlorophenyl 390 8 4-fluorophenyl 374 9 3-methylphenyl 370 10 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl 424 11 4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl 440 12 4-(isopropyl)phenyl 398 13 2-naphthyl 406 14 4-(methoxy)phenyl 386

EXAMPLE 15 Evaluation of 5-HT₆ Binding Affinity of Test Compounds

The affinity of test compounds for the serotonin 5-HT₆ receptor was evaluated in the following manner. Cultured Hela cells expressing human cloned 5-HT₆ receptors were harvested and centrifuged at low speed (1,000×g) for 10.0 minutes to remove the culture media. The harvested cells were suspended in half volume of fresh physiological phosphate buffered saline solution and recentrifuged at the same speed. This operation was repeated. The collected cells were then homogenized in ten volumes of 50 mM Tris.HCl (pH 7.4) and 0.5 mM EDTA. The homogenate was centrifuged at 40,000×g for 30.0 min and the precipitate was collected. The obtained pellet was resuspended in 10 volumes of Tris.HCl buffer and recentrifuged at the same speed. The final pellet was suspended in a small volume of Tris.HCl buffer and the tissue protein content was determined in aliquots of 10-25 μl volumes. Bovine Serum Albumin was used as the standard in the protein determination according to the method described in Lowry et al., J. Biol. Chem., 193: 265 (1951). The volume of the suspended cell membranes was adjusted to give a tissue protein concentration of 1.0 mg/ml of suspension. The prepared membrane suspension (10 times concentrated) was aliquoted in 1.0 ml volumes and stored at −70° C. until used in subsequent binding experiments.

Binding experiments were performed in a 96 well microtiter plate format, in a total volume of 200 μl. To each well was added the following mixture: 80.0 μl of incubation buffer made in 50 mM Tris.HCl buffer (pH 7.4) containing 10.0 mM MgCl₂ and 0.5 mM EDTA and 20 μl of [³H]-LSD (S.A., 86.0 Ci/mmol, available from Amersham Life Science), 3.0 nM. The dissociation constant, K_(D) of the [³H]LSD at the human serotonin 5-HT₆ receptor was 2.9 nM, as determined by saturation binding with increasing concentrations of [³H]LSD. The reaction was initiated by the final addition of 100.0 μl of tissue suspension. Nonspecific binding was measured in the presence of 10.0 μM methiothepin. The test compounds were added in 20.0 μl volume.

The reaction was allowed to proceed in the dark for 120 minutes at room temperature, at which time, the bound ligand-receptor complex was filtered off on a 96 well unifilter with a Packard Filtermate® 196 Harvester. The bound complex caught on the filter disk was allowed to air dry and the radioactivity is measured in a Packard TopCount® equipped with six photomultiplier detectors, after the addition of 40.0 μl Microscint®-20 scintillant to each shallow well. The unifilter plate was heat-sealed and counted in a PackardTopCount® with a tritium efficiency of 31.0%.

Specific binding to the 5-HT₆ receptor was defined as the total radioactivity bound less the amount bound in the presence of 10.0 μM unlabeled methiothepin. Binding in the presence of varying concentrations of test compound was expressed as a percentage of specific binding in the absence of test compound. The results were plotted as log % bound versus log concentration of test compound. Nonlinear regression analysis of data points with a computer assisted program Prism® yielded both the IC₅₀ and the K_(i) values of test compounds with 95% confidence limits. A linear regression line of data points was plotted, from which the IC₅₀ value is determined and the K_(i) value is determined based upon the following equation: K _(i) =IC ₅₀/(1+L/K _(D)) where L was the concentration of the radioactive ligand used and K_(D) is the dissociation constant of the ligand for the receptor, both expressed in nM.

Using this assay, the following Ki values were determined. The data are shown in Table II, below.

TABLE II Test Compound 5-HT₆ Binding Ki (Example No.) (nM) 4 3.8 5 55 6 93 7 19 8 66 9 50 10 46 11 48 12 14 13 9.6 14 123 

1. A compound of formula I

wherein R is H, halogen, haloalkyl, or an alkyl group optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents selected from halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy or haloalkoxy groups; R₁ is an aryl group optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents selected from halogen atoms, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy or haloalkoxy groups; R₂ is H or an alkyl group optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents selected from halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy or haloalkoxy groups; R₃ and R₄ are each H; n is 0 or an integer of 1; and R₅ is H or an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or cycloalkyl, group each group optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents selected from halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy or haloalkoxy groups; or a stereoisomer thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 2. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R₁ is an optionally substituted phenyl or naphthyl group.
 3. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R is H.
 4. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R₂ is H or methyl.
 5. The compound according to claim 4 wherein R₁ is an optionally substituted phenyl or naphthyl group.
 6. The compound according to claim 5 wherein R is H.
 7. The compound according to claim 1 selected from the group consisting of: 3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-5-(1-naphthylsulfonyl)-1H-indazole; 3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-5-(2-naphthylsulfonyl)-1H-indazole; 3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-5-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-indazole; 5-[(3-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indazole; 5-[(3-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl]-3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indazole; 5-[(4-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indazole; 5-[(3-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]-3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indazole; 3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-5-{[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]sulfonyl}-1H-indazole; 3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-5-{[4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]sulfonyl}-1H-indazole; 5-[4-(isopropylphenyl)sulfonyl]-3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indazole; a stereoisomer thereof; and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 8. A pharmaceutical composition which comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and an effective amount of a compound of formula I

wherein R is H, halogen, haloalkyl, or an alkyl group optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents selected from halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy or haloalkoxy groups; R₁ is an aryl group optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents selected from halogen atoms, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy or haloalkoxy groups; R₂ is H or an alkyl group optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents selected from halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy or haloalkoxy groups; R₃ and R₄ are each H; n is 0 or an integer of 1; and R₅ is H or an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or cycloalkyl, group each group optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents selected from halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy or haloalkoxy groups; or a stereoisomer thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 9. The composition according to claim 8 having a formula I compound wherein R₁ is an optionally substituted phenyl or naphthyl group.
 10. The composition according to claim 9 having a formula I compound wherein R₂ is H or methyl.
 11. The composition according to claim 8 having a formula I compound selected from the group consisting of: 3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-5-(1-naphthylsulfonyl)-1H-indazole; 3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-5-(2-naphthylsulfonyl)-1H-indazole; 3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-5-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-indazole; 5-[(3-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indazole; 5-[(3-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl]-3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indazole; 5-[(4-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indazole; 5-[(3-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]-3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indazole; 3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-5-{[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]sulfonyl}-1H-indazole; 3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-5-{[4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]sulfonyl}-1H-indazole; 5-[4-(isopropylphenyl)sulfonyl]-3-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indazole; a stereoisomer thereof; and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 12. A process for the preparation of a compound of formula Ia

wherein R is H, halogen, haloalkyl, or an alkyl group optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents selected from halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy or haloalkoxy groups; R₁ is an aryl group optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents selected from halogen atoms, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy or haloalkoxy groups; R₂ is an alkyl group optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents selected from halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy or haloalkoxy groups; R₃ and R₄ are each H; n is 0 or an integer of 1; and R₅ is H or an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or cycloalkyl, group each group optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents selected from halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy or haloalkoxy groups, which process comprises reacting a compound of formula II

wherein R, R₁, R₃, R₄ and R₅ are as described for formula Ia with at least two molar equivalents of an oxidizing agent optionally in the presence of a solvent. 